Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday landed in Islamabad from Dushanbe after completing his four-nation tour, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a brief statement.
During his week-long trip, the premier visited Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan and had wide-ranging discussions with the respective leaders on an entire range of issues covering bilateral relations and matters of regional and international importance.
He also expressed the deepest appreciation and acknowledgement for the support extended to Pakistan by the friendly countries during the recent crisis with India.
“Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi are part of the delegation accompanying the Prime Minister on his visit to Iran,” the broadcaster wrote in a post on X.
The premier started his trip with a two-day visit to Turkiye on Sunday, where he had a delegation-level meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
During the meeting, the prime minister thanked Turkiye for their support during the recent conflict and discussed bilateral trade and investment between the two nations.
“Turkish Defense Minister Yashar Guler, Deputy Governor of Istanbul Ilker Haktankacmaz Burhan Kayaturk, President of the Pakistan-Turkiye Cultural Association, Yousuf Junaid, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkiye, Numan Aslam, Consul General in Istanbul, senior Turkish government officials, and Pakistani diplomats stationed in Turkiye saw off the Prime Minister at Istanbul Airport,” PTV News said in a post on X.
The prime minister then landed in Iran on Monday, where he expressed his willingness to talk with India to resolve ongoing disputes between the two countries, including the Kashmir issue and water security.
“We wanted peace, we want peace and we will work for peace in the region through talks on the table and resolve our outstanding issues, including the Kashmir problem, according to the resolutions passed by the [United Nations] Security Council … and even by Indian Lok Sabha (parliament) back in 1954,” the Prime Minister said during joint press conference with Iranian President Masood Pezeshkian in Tehran.
“There was total agreement that our two brotherly and neighbourly countries must enhance our cooperation in the field of trade, investments, commerce, in fact, every walk of life,” he said.
The prime minister also held a meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Monday, discussing regional security, Pakistan’s recent conflict with India, and avenues to deepen strategic cooperation between the two nations, the Prime Minister’s office said.
During the courtesy call at the Supreme Leader’s office, PM Shehbaz, accompanied by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, expressed his “deepest respect” for Khamenei, whom he described as “an iconic figure in the Muslim World.”
While addressing the International Conference on Glaciers, Preservation-2025, in Dushanbe earlier in the day, the prime minister said that Pakistan will not allow India to cross the red line by holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.
He said India’s unilateral and illegal decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty is deeply regrettable.
“Millions of lives must not be held hostage to narrow political gains,” PM Shehbaz said.
Meanwhile, the PM called for enhanced global action to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. He emphasised that the developed countries must meet their climate-related financial commitments without any delay.
“Adequate funding for climate resilient infrastructure and overcoming the financing gap remains critical,” the PM said, adding that investments must be made in the early warning systems and disaster preparedness and management.
“The purpose of the Prime Minister’s visit was to thank the people of Turkiye, and especially President Erdogan, for their strong cooperation and support in the recent tensions between Pakistan and India,” the post added.
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